Braveheart

Rating:
Summary: I wish...
Review: ..I could say I loved the book as much as the movie but unfortunately, that's not the case. I always prefer books over movies so having seen this excellent movie a billion times (more or less), I decided to read the book. Talk about being disappointed! If I hadn't seen the movie first, this book would have been discarded after chapter one but instead, I just kept reading and hoping the story would pick up eventually. Alas, it just dragged on and on. I wonder if Mel Gibson read this book before making the movie? If he had, I think he would agree, his script is way off Mister Wallace's version of the event's which took place in Scotland. A lot of people who reviewed this book seemed to like it but I can only be honest in my opinion by saying I didn't like it and I suggest you stick to the movie version just for the action scenes alone.

Rating:
Summary: I wish...
Review: ..I could say I loved the book as much as the movie but unfortunately, that's not the case. I always prefer books over movies so having seen this excellent movie a billion times (more or less), I decided to read the book. Talk about being disappointed! If I hadn't seen the movie first, this book would have been discarded after chapter one but instead, I just kept reading and hoping the story would pick up eventually. Alas, it just dragged on and on. I wonder if Mel Gibson read this book before making the movie? If he had, I think he would agree, his script is way off Mister Wallace's version of the event's which took place in Scotland. A lot of people who reviewed this book seemed to like it but I can only be honest in my opinion by saying I didn't like it and I suggest you stick to the movie version just for the action scenes alone.

Rating:
Summary: Inaccurate, misleading and so badly written
Review: A book about Scotsmen and their struggle to win their freedom forever ; a book about love, loyalty and devotion. Randall Wallace's Braveheart conjures up the scenes of a film we've all seen and loved. Only that it is much better. The writer pays his respects to his Scottish forefathers narrating the story of Sir William Wallace, the great Scottish national hero, through the eyes of a poet. His descriprions of this land of epic beauty carry us away to Medieval Scotland where we witness the leader's life as a boy, his secret wedding, the battles, his execution by the English.... 285 pages "haunted" by this 13th-century epic hi-story, written by a truly passionate writer. In the heart of Randall Wallace this is exactly how it happened... A true MUST-READ for every dedicated Scottish fan.

Rating:
Summary: A Genuine Tear-Jerker
Review: After watching the movie, which has since become my favorite, I rushed out to read the book. I was not disappointed. Given, it isn't historically accurate, but with the extra kicks the author puts in both the novel and the movie, it helps enhance the story. Although books are usually better in the movie, I must beg to differ on this one. The book was excellent, but you just can't beat the film's special effects and Mel Gibson in a kilt.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best history lesson, but an incredible story
Review: As most people, I read this book after the movie came out. I am a medival studies major and am intrigued by the story of William Wallace. This book was great. But there is much you need to know before you pick it up, mainly whether you are looking for a history lesson, or just a good read.
The story of Wallace is incredible. One man, against all odds, fighting for what he believes in. Much of this book is fiction. The author has created a hard, semi-satisfying life for Wallace, and has created his own reasons for William Wallace to wage war agains Edward I (Longshanks). But the truth is, that we really dont know why Wallace waged war in the first place. The battles were very well researched and the author was able to tell them acuratly and well, making you feel as if you are on the battlefield on Wallace's side.
Many people had a hard time with this novel, and gave it poor reviews, but if they give this book a poor review, then they should give all historical fiction bad reviews. It is impossible for an author to know the complete lives of a historical character, even with extensive research. The author, Randall Wallace, did a wonderful job.
I only have a few small complaints that I think could have been touched up on, and can throw many historian hopfulls off. The first being that it is said Longhanks dies soon after Wallaces death, but in truth, longshanks reigned for almost 3 years after Wallaces death. Another would be the affair between William Wallace and Princess Isebella. The author moved the marriage of Prince Edward and Isebella of France up a few years. They were not even married until years after Wallaces death, which makes the affair fiction.
As I stated at the beginning of this review, this is a wonderful book. A great story of courage, love, and a passion for your country that will never die, But if you are looking for a book about William Wallace that is based mainly on historical facts, you will not find it here.
This book is for any fan of the middle ages. I suggest putting aside all the bad reviews for sad reasons, and pick up a copy of this wherever you can find it.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best history lesson, but an incredible story
Review: As most people, I read this book after the movie came out. I am a medival studies major and am intrigued by the story of William Wallace. This book was great. But there is much you need to know before you pick it up, mainly whether you are looking for a history lesson, or just a good read.
The story of Wallace is incredible. One man, against all odds, fighting for what he believes in. Much of this book is fiction. The author has created a hard, semi-satisfying life for Wallace, and has created his own reasons for William Wallace to wage war agains Edward I (Longshanks). But the truth is, that we really dont know why Wallace waged war in the first place. The battles were very well researched and the author was able to tell them acuratly and well, making you feel as if you are on the battlefield on Wallace's side.
Many people had a hard time with this novel, and gave it poor reviews, but if they give this book a poor review, then they should give all historical fiction bad reviews. It is impossible for an author to know the complete lives of a historical character, even with extensive research. The author, Randall Wallace, did a wonderful job.
I only have a few small complaints that I think could have been touched up on, and can throw many historian hopfulls off. The first being that it is said Longhanks dies soon after Wallaces death, but in truth, longshanks reigned for almost 3 years after Wallaces death. Another would be the affair between William Wallace and Princess Isebella. The author moved the marriage of Prince Edward and Isebella of France up a few years. They were not even married until years after Wallaces death, which makes the affair fiction.
As I stated at the beginning of this review, this is a wonderful book. A great story of courage, love, and a passion for your country that will never die, But if you are looking for a book about William Wallace that is based mainly on historical facts, you will not find it here.
This book is for any fan of the middle ages. I suggest putting aside all the bad reviews for sad reasons, and pick up a copy of this wherever you can find it.

Rating:
Summary: You die for honor and freedom, and get it at the end....
Review: Everyone wants of story of love and hatred, of honor and respect, about cowards and heroes... the story of the heroic William Wallace and his army. This tale consists of all these caracteristics. It`s an amazing true story of the English who dominate the Scottish lands. Everyone wanted freedom, but they all saw but they all saw in one man`s eyes that he wanted it the most, that man was William Wallace. Surprisingly, this war against the English and the Scottish didn`t start out as wanting freedom ; but revenge.

Rating:
Summary: An epic battle for freedom
Review: Heroes come in many forms, some lead armies to victory, some lead armies to defeat and some die as martyrs. William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish hero was most likely the greatest military leader of the century, if not for several centuries, and he did all three. He fought British rule, devising forms of combat that defeated the best military formations that the English had. If it had not been for the treachery of the Scottish nobility, he probably would have led the Scots to victory over the English and even to independence. An advocate of the commoners, he could have been a rarity of the times, a king awarded a crown by popular acclimation.
I really enjoyed the reading of this story. Wallace was a very brave man who was a reluctant fighter, taking up arms only after the English troops killed his wife. This is truly an epic tale that rivals all others, including those describing the feats of Greek and Roman arms. His response as he was publicly drawn and quartered was one of defiance to the end. He refused to beg the King's men for mercy, taking all of the pain that they could inflict.
This is a story of courage, deeply held belief, treachery, and posthumous triumph. Even though I know how it turns out, I will read the book very soon. I have not yet seen the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, poor book
Review: I'm a huge fan of the movie. I think it had excellent everything and wonderful music. But the book was awful-if I hadn't seen the movie and felt some devotion to it, I would have quit in the middle. The movie was quite inaccurate, but the action and storyline made up for that. But how can I comment on the book? I could say it was poorly written, or I could say that the plot was deviated with holes, or that William's eye color changes, and we never know what Murron is embroidering, or I could just say I wasted my time reading it. Unfortunatly for Randall Wallace, I rarely forget. Let's just say I won't be reading any of his books anytime soon. Don't waste your money-just watch the movie.

Rating:
Summary: It didn't happen
Review: It's all right as long as you don't mind the fact that Wallace died before Princess Isabella married the prince; Wallace and the Bruce are unlikely to have had many personal conversations; Wallace probably died during the torture and did not yell out freedom like some superhuman. Aside from that, it is an epic story that became that incredible movie. An entertaining read if you don't mind complete bastardization of Scottish history.

For fact, try "William Wallace: The Man Who Was Braveheart." I don't remember the author, but it's a pretty fast, interesting book.